Subject: Southampton FC / Markus Liebherr

Hi guys

Apparently Markus Liebherr is just about to take over at Southampton FC - the club has been in administration since the end of May and at some point looked like it would cease to exist altogether. Now out of nowhere the Swiss bid has been made and it looks like it will go trough tonight or tomorrow.

Can any of you shed some light on this Markus Liebherr? Is he wealthy? Is he involved in other sports franchises? Etc.?

Really, really excited as this has been the worst couple of months in my life as Saints supporter. First the relegation from PL in 2005, then the relegation to League One this season and next season we start on -10 points. But maybe the Swiss will save us? ;-D

Never heard of him before...

Bummer. That wasn't the answer I was looking for! ;-D

Never heard...

Probably this one:

http://www.mali-motanag.ch/?English_version

:-) Sorry, but he doesn't seem to be that well known... :-)

Picture :-)

According to this article he was part of the Liebherr industry:

When company founder Hans Liebherr died in 1993, at age 78, his industrial enterprise generated roughly $2.5 billion in sales annually. Now it was time for the second Liebherr generation to take over management of the family enterprise. Hans, Jr. took over responsibility for the crane and concrete mixing business, Willi for earth moving equipment, and Isolde for the refrigerator production and hotels. Markus Liebherr, however, had changed his life plans and gave most of his shares in the company back to his brothers and sister. Hans, Jr., Willi, and Isolde met every other week to discuss the basic decisions concerning investment, product development, and finances.

So did he give up all earthly possesions or is he stinking rich by now? :-p

http://www.bilanz.ch/edition/artikel.asp?Session=<&CID=110&CPID=0&AssetID=3839

The family Liebherr is one of the richest family of Switzerland (4-5 Mia CHF in 2006, you can see a list with the 300 richest persons/ families in Switzerland in the link at the top), probably you are lucky and not only his brothers and sister has some money ;-)

We don't really know our rich people here ") But Liebherr is a name that sounds familiar :) They made their money in a concrete business... they should tackle the problems of your club, one way or the other... ;P

And we have a good horserider named Liebherr too :D Guess she's a relative?

Isn't "Liebherr" a common name (jewish origins)? Don't think the chance of them being related is very big. ;)
Well if he gave back his shares, then he surely got money for them and should have enough to secure the club. I don't know him and also don't know most of the guys on the list of richest guys.

Oh and maybe a reason why he isn't so famous here:

Wikipedia
Most of the company is in other countries than Switzerland. But they seem to make sponsorship for other sport as well (table tennis it seems).
(edited)

Thanks for the input guys - much appreciated :-)

Don't know him either ;-)

She is indeed :P
"Christina Liebherr (* 16. März 1979 in Stuttgart) ist eine Schweizer Springreiterin. Sie ist die Enkelin von Hans Liebherr, dem Gründer des Baumaschinenkonzerns Liebherr. Seit 1994 besitzt die gebürtige Deutsche die Schweizer Staatsbürgerschaft." (Wikipedia)
Horseriding is a quite expensive "hobby", so it makes sense.
(edited)

It's indeed official now:

see article

so he's planning a long term investment and no short term profit. he decided in favour of the saints because of his loyal fans, the tradition of th club and the quality of the stadium ;-)

he's indeed part of the family in who's possession the company "Liebherr" is (constuction engines).

They used to sponsor Fribourg Gottéron, a Swiss top hockey league club
(edited)

Oha, da hab ich mir die Finger verbrannt :D Die Schweiz ist eben doch kleiner als man denkt :D